Offset switch blade



Dec-831i, 1957 A F. G. NlcoLAus 2,818,481

` OFFSET SWITCH BLADE l Filed Aug. l1, 1955 Fles 8 z F|G.4

FRANK G. NICOLAUS ATTORNEY l o INVENToR limited *States Patent OFFSET SWITCH BLADE Frank G. Nicolaus, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 11, 1955, Serial No. 527,666

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-166) This invention pertains to switch blades for use in stack switches, and according to which certain offsets are provided which make it possible to stagger sets of the blades while maintaining the operating load in one straight line or columnar relation, so that a relay armature or like actuating instrumentality will be more efficiently loaded, and more blades may be more efficiently utilized in a given assembly than was possible with previous types of blade.

A further object is the provision of switch blades having double-offset ends or tabs for cooperation in sets, the blades being stacked with the offsets alternately in rightand left-hand staggered relation so as to provide important operating clearances and improved loading for the operating instrumentality, e. g. an armature in a relay.

Additional objects and aspects of novelty and utility relate to the construction and operation of the illustrative embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a master blade;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a companion blade;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a relay employing the new switch blades;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the relay of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a dual insulating wafer for single-screw mounting;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a relay with dual-column stack and single-mounting screw;

1 Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blade punching with dual ugs.

Stack or jack switches employ a form of contact which is a narrow elongated blade of springy, but fairly lowresistance metal, such as Phosphor bronze. These blades are secured at one end in a stack of insulating wafers with their opposite free ends extending into space and being free to flex, the free end regions also usually carrying a contact point or button.

Such contact blades are very commonly used in relays, motor cam switches and the like, and in their simplest form, they consist of only two spring blades, one of wllllich is to be flexed into or out of engagement with the ot er.

When a stack switch contains a large number of switch blades, it is often referred to as a pile-up and it may require an appreciable pull or thrust to flex the sets of blades in a large pile-up, so that a problem arises when a maximum number of contacts must be loaded onto a given or available operating force. Very often several pile-ups are required to be used in one relay, and the relay armature may be required to flex a load equivalentl to the mechanical resistance of as many as eighteen blades.

When it is not possible to design the electromagnetic components of a relay to provide satisfactory power for the working load, marginal operation often results, especially iu the cheaper styles of relay.

The present invention provides improvements in the switch blade which reduce the total loading by the blades,

distribute the load more evenly in multi-stack assem- Patented Dec. 31, 1957 Yice blies and large pile-ups, and make it possible to eliminate' certain protective accessories necessarily used with the conventional type of blade.

In Fig. 1 there is shown what is termed for convenience a master blade 10 which is characterized in that its working end comprises a narrow finger 11 having double or' staggered offset end portions 12 and 13.

The oifset tab portion 13 lies along a center line or longitudinal axis through the blade, as shown in dash-dot line, and a contact point 14 is fixed, as by staking, in finger 11 close to the juncture with the first offset 12.

The remainder of the contact comprises the stock portion 1S, which is of full width (comparable to the width of the old style blades) pierced as at 16 to receive mounting screws 17 (Figs. 3 and 4), and having a pierced tail 18 constituting a soldering lug.

The companion or secondary blade 10A is shown in Fig. 2, and is substantially identical in its stock parts 15A, 16A, 18A, to the master blade; moreover, the finger portion 11A thereof is the same as that in the master blade except for the fact that both offsets and the tab are omitted.

The blades generally indicated at 10 and 10A (Figs. 1 and 2) are used in pairs or triplets each comprising a set, and there may be one or more sets of pairs or triplets in the same column or pile-up.

In the view of Fig. 4, there is shown only one stack or pile-up; but this is subdivided, in a manner of speaking, into two right and left columns X and Y, it being observed however that all of the tabs 13 are disposed in one load line Z which lies in a vertical line which is located in a triangular array relative to the columnar axes X and Y. This is brought out in Fig. 5 where these three lines are shown in their vertical relationships.

In mounting the sets of blades, whether pairs or triplets, they are turned rightand left-hand to provide for clearance between sets, and preferably so that there will be equal numbers of blades in the several columns X and Y, with all of the actuating tabs or offsets 13 lying along the one load line Z.

One of the important advantages of the new shape of blade arises from offsetting the sets alternately rightand left-hand when they consist partly or entirely of triplets.

ln a triplet, the master blade is normally biased and closed with a first or upper one of its two companion blades, both blades being flexed in this condition; and upon actuation the master blade will disengage the first or normal blade, pass through and below a mid-position, and continue on to engage the second or lower blade of this set; the latter action requires some freedom or range for the second blade to yield and flex downwardly from its normal open-circuit condition in order to assure that the electrical contact established between any two blades shall be positive and firm. Thus, in whichever of the two opposite directions the master blade travels, it must have freedom for overtravel. This is true of both pairs and trios.

In the old type of pile-up, it was required that there be extra space provided between the various sets of contacts (especially triplets) lying in the same column and, moreover, that there be extra insulation (usually in the form of a strip of lish paper) to cover any blade which might accidentally be touched by another blade in an adjoining set in the actuating movements thereof.

These precautionary requirements commonly meant the expense of extra insulating wafers between sets in the stock or pile, in addition to the fish paper strips, so that extra space and material and labor were needed to `preven! short circuits and damage.

The new contacts permit offset columnar or rightandl of a blade in one set'engaging any blade in an adjoining setis eliminated, since the critical portions otiAthenevv` blades behind the lingers 11 thereof are staggered.

The utility of `these clearance featuresis not restricted to theY triplet sets but applies l to` dualecontact sets, also,

because the companion or seconda-rycontacts-of-1such pairs must tlex measurably upon making contact for reliable results,land1 clearance for'sucwh movement- 1s provided;by the new contact means without use of spacersY ingy a series of horizontalblade slots 32 (Fig. 5) adapted toV receive the free end` portions ofcontact'y blades, and through which (Fig. 4') theyactuating tabs.13o the new type blades project.

At the rear of this relay (Figs. 3 and 4)]is a flange 33 having a plurality of sets of-jtappedholes 34, 35, 36 to receive the switch-mounting screws 17.

In the embodiment of'Fig, 4, only one stack switch is shown, and this is mounted centrally at; holes 36 so that the tabs 1-3 are located centrally of4 theV armature panel 31'. I-f two similar switches were desired, they would preferably be mounted atthe pairs of holes 34 and 36, so as to present a balanced loading on the armature. The novel` construction is not limited yto use in any particular type of' relay, but is generally applicable to any" situation where a stacl switch would beI used.

Switch `blades with offset ontacts have been used heretofore in telephone relays of the type where the contacts are not favorably situated for direct engagement with the actuating levers;l but these arrangements did not provide the construction nor voperation of the improvements disclosed hereinwith respect to loading the actuf ating armature or reducing space as well as material and other manufacturing costs.

Because dummy spaces are not needed to provide clearance between sets of the new type blades (of which at least one-is a trio) in the same column, it is possible to utilize one insulating wafer which is common to two columns or stacks. A dual wafer 40 of'this type is depicted in Fig. 6, and includes four holes 42 for the blade sleeves'andonly-one central hole 41 to receive a single mounting screwf45 (Fig. 7). `Thusone"scr ew"in stead of fouris yrequired to mount the stack, so that savings are etfected both in materials and in assembly cost, the operations in assembling-the wafers to build up a stack being an'especially signiicant itemof cost.

In Fig. S lthere vis shown a punched blade 50 having right and leftlugsl, 52, either'ofvwhich may be sheared ol'to provide `the alternatelyloeatedlugsfor each pair ofcoacting bladesyso` that two sets ofdies are not needed.

Iclaim:

l..In a switch, at least two elongated metal blades ref spectively secured atone e-nd one above the other` to extend in parallel-ism in the same direction, each bladeihavf ing a longitudinally-extensivefinger portion projecting freely along opposite sides of a commonaxis-parallel thereto, oneof -saidblades having its free end offset' toward said axis and again otset on said axle to extend a substantial distance along kthe latter and define an axiallyeextensive and aligned'l actuatingtab.M O V 2. in a stack switch, cooperative elongated blades in sets each blade having alstzock part at one. end adapted for mount-ing in the staclgand ahblade having ,la nar.- rowed finger portion extending 'from the appertaining stock part and offset a `substantial distance "atL onefside of a longitudinal yaxis throughthe middle of-"thestock part, at least oneblade in each ,set haying ,amend portion with adr/ubi@ set protesting ,first ,toward saidaxis fnd then into'a terminalv tab p ortion in 4aligntrtent said axis, all offsets being kept `Wiftljtirl ,alineextendedmaloiig the outermost margins of said stock part paralleling said axis.

3. The blade structure dened in claim 2 further characterized in that said sets of blades are made rightand left-hand and are disposed in the stack on opposite sides of said axis such that all said tabs for a given switch stack lie in one load column. M

4. In a jack switch, elongated spring contact blades in sets eachbladeihaving a mounting end and afree end portion and havinglhe'respective mounting end portions thereof arrangedin a pile-up in a stack of Iinsulating wafers'with Vthe blades of 'each set extending one above another in the di.r.e ci;0 11 of their longitudinal axes, the free end portions` 4of each blade including a substantially longitndinallyfextensive finger portion which lies on,l one sideV of thefappertaining longitudinal axis,l at leasty one blade in, each set havingl said' linger portion' offset near the tree` end thereon towardfsaid axisA with a terminall tab extending,in the direction of and along said axis, certain of said, blades bfjeins otV opposite hand, and thenser, portions of. ,certain of said sets` lying in a ylfhjsty column' on one` side 'of said axis while the finger portions of other setsllie in a second column on the opposite side of said axissuch: that the blade iingers in the first c oluinn may Hex wit engaging the blade ngers of the second column, the tabfp'ptioilsfofall sets-` lying one above another in athird c'oliiinri4 along Va common load axis for joint ac* tio"v by Lop,erating instrumentality eiigagelv ablitherwilth;

HS A construction according to claim 4 further characterized `in that` there are a` plurality of said pile-ups Vin a single said wafers and at least tivo' sets'A of not less than two cooperating blade contacts in each said s'fet and the tab portionsmof the sets ineach said pilefupf life'iii respectively diferent but parallel load amsy forjointfer'i-` gagement and lement by an actuatinginstrumentality movable in the general direction'of said loadaxesl 6. Switch 4blade'sin4 setsforuse in stackkv witches, each set including at least one right-hand and 'one left-hand blade, said blade set comprising'a pairho elongated, flat strips of conductive spriiigy Inetal respectively ,coilstituting'a rightand a left-hand blade of a setjan'd each blade having at one end a wide lmounting portion 1S or .15A which is substantially symmetricallydisposed on opposite sides of a long axis extending-'through the'v middle of the blade along the length thereof, the'rnounting portionoi each blade having a narrowed, longitudinally-extensive nger portion il or 11A, ihe major part ofvwhich lies on only one side lof saidv'axi's in "thel direotioiicrosswise of the blade, the free end portion of one of said iingers havf ing a double offset including an intervening portion i2 directed angularly back toward said axis, and a terminal tab portion 13 extending'from said intervening portion a short distance in a direction aloha said axis. v Said .blades being adaptedtor'mounting onespaced above allOther in a awash Stack eeaei'n'sid"intins Portions thereof, with `said iinger' portions thereof projecting into spaccio flex away'from Isaidax'is Ain a" directionlnorrnal to their mounting planes, the finger portions of :each blade of the set lying at a said'axiswhich Ais opposite from the other sfgssw@ 911 the Widthlf 'the blades with Said terminal tab portion one blade projecting beyond the free toi the finger of the companion blade for engagement with operating instrumentality, said blades each having contact means Lsituated thereon along saidl lin confronting relation ,at a point which is inward `of the location oi said double offset. l m' References `Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.8515328 wagar May 1o, 1,932 2.272.495 wood Feb. 10, 11942 2,616,993 Koehler ANews, 19'52 2,775,671 Dreyfus Dec. 25, 1956 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Column 3, line 63, for "axle" read axis --no Signed and sealed this 11th day of March l958 (SEAL) Atest:

KARL H AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Comissioner of Patents U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No., 2,818,481

December 3l, 1957 Frank Go Nicolaus It is hereby certified that error ap of' the above numbered patent requiring co Patent should read as corrected below.

pears in the printed specification rrection and that the said Let sers Signed and ysealed this 11th day of March 1958.,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Hu AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Comissioner of Patents 

